Coal mining and loading machine



Jan. 27, 1931.

E. c, MORGAN COALMINING AND LOADING MACHINE Original Filed June 4, 1917 1| I. ,l W .D .l...

sl & QDN I A llll x In Vent 0r and C, WM

Patented Jan. 27, 1931 .nnmnnn c.- MORGAN, or. new YORK, n] in; mvmeGE-mr was sc m; on

r I THE ESTATE o sAIn En UNn C 'QIl/IORQAN, nnennsnnfl I I .coAL MInING Ann LoAnrne ivrncnrnn Application med June 4, 1917, Ser ia1 n i'zasisi." Renewed April 6, 192% I The object of my invention'is to provide a simple and efficient machine for loading coal.

Referring to the drawing Fig. 1 is a side view of the entire machine. 7 Fig. 2 i-s'atop 5 view of the same. Fig.3 is an enlarged sectional'view of the feeding mechanism taken partly'on line-3-3, and partly on line 55,

Fig. 2 in the direction indicated by the arrows on those lines. Fig. 4': is'a sectional view of a portion of the driving gearing for the upper chain cutter and the forward conveyor taken in line 1-4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5, Fig.2, in the direction indicated by the arrows, showing a hydraulic breaker and pump for operating it; Fig. 6 is a sectional viewshowing eX- tensible driving connection for the upper cutting chain as indicated by the arrow at 6 Fig. 1. where it is nearly all broken away.

'Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

' Referring toFigues and 2, the main frame 8 carries a conveyor frame 9 by means of 'the'bra'ckets 10 and 11; also mounted in the main frame 8 is an electric motor 12,

which drives all the mechanism of the machine by means of pinion 13 on the forward end of the motor shaft 14, and the pinion 15' at the rear end of the motor shaft. 7 A vertical stationary shaft 16 is secured at its lower 7 40. D, and feeding mechanism E. all of which are driven by themotor pinion-13 through the bevel gear 18, bevel gear 19 and-sprocket wheel 20' whichare connected together and loosely mounted on the stationaryshaft 16 to revolve as an unitary structure.

The. two chain kerfcutters aresimilar in construction tothe kerf cutter shown in .my PatentNo. 550,283, issued Nor/.26, 1895. 1 The lower kerf cutter is rigidly connectedto the frame 17,-andits chain is. driven directly by the sprocket wheel 20. The'up'per. 'kerf cutteris vertically adjustably mounted-on the frame 17 by means cf'two hollow posts 21 and'22 secured to the frame .17 into which two screw shafts 23 and 24 secure to the cutter frame are respectively arranged to slide.

22v a shaft 27 having its outer ends squared to fit a square socket crank, is mountedin bearings on the posts 21 and 22, and has keyed to it two worms 28, 29 arranged to mesh respectively with worm gears 25 and 26.

The cutting chain of the upper kerf cutter is driven from bevel gear 19 through bevel pinion 30, shaft 31, carried inthe frame 17, bevel pinion 32-mounted on shaft 31. bevel gear 33 meshing with bevel pinion 32 and mounted'on shaft 34 which-is carried in frame 17, bevel pinion 35 mounted on shaft 3.4:, bevel gear 36 meshing with bevel pinion 35 and".

mounted on vertical extensible shaft '37,

mounted at its lowerportion in frame 17, and

at its upper end in suitable bearings 38, 39 in the upper cutter, on which is sprocket wheel 40 keyed totheshaft' 37 which meshes with and drives the cutting chain-The portion.

of this. driving train not clearly shown in Figs. '1 and 2, is shown in enlarged sectional view Fig-dwhich is taken on line M, Fig.

2, looking in the direction indicated bythe' arrows. v a

That portion of the extensible shaft 37 broken away. as indicated by the arrow at 6 Fig. 1, is shown in enlarged section Fig. 6. 1

The breaking mechanism C sho n in position in the machine in Fig. 2, is more clearly 38 by means of-ayoke 47 which is mounted on theupper part of said bearing 38 so as to have a slight turning movement. This yoke 47 is rigidly connected to the cylinder of the P p Water "supply L arr e liin the reservoir 48 which is castintegral with the pump cylinder. A passageway 49 with a valve 50 of usual construction connects'the inside of erese ir ir w t he i ide he pump cylinder. A pipe 51 connects the pump with the breaker cylinder ,41. .w This pipe'is rigidly connected but owing. tothe length it would have in practice, it will flexibly. yield to a considerable eXtent-soas to permit of thenecessary up. and down move ment of the breaker cylinder. A pipe 52 extendsfrom the pipe 51-to the reservolr. At.

7 g the junction of the pipes a. valve 53 is provided s'o as to enable the operator at will to make connection between the breaking cylinder and pump or between breaker cylinder and reservoir. A check valve 54 of usual construction is provided at the end of the pump cylinder 48. The breaker cylinder 41 at its outer end, shown clearly in Fig. 2, is supported in the cutter frame by means of a rod 55 attached to the cutter frame, the cylinder being loosely connected to the rod by means of two straps 56, 57 which permits of up and down movement and also sliding movement of the breaker cylinder. A spiral spring 58 isplaced on theirod' 55 andabuts against the strap 57 at one end, and against a 'nut 59 at its other end. The rod 55 is threaded a considerable distance so that by means of the nut 59, any tension desired may be put on the spring. l V

It will be noted that by means of the pivoted connection formed by the yoke 47, on the bearing 38, swinging movement of the whole -breaker apparatus is providedwhich will permit the breaker to stand still when doing its work while the cutter frame continues to move forward.

The conveyor mechanism indicated as a whole by the letter D carried in the swinging frame 1=7, receives the coal that is detached by theaction of the kerf cutters and breaker, and} delivers itto the-hopper of the conveyor frame 9. The discharge end of the conveyor D registers with the circular lip of' the hopper at any position of thet ravel of the swinging frame 17. The'u'pp'er portion 69, of the conveyor D', is hinged at 61 so as topermit it to swing upif it strikes the angular portion of the conveyor frame 9.

That portion of the con-veyer frame 9 which maybe seen in plan in Fig. 2 between the forward hopper and the deep storage hopper below the U-shaped frame 98, constitutes an upwardly inclined chute for the scraper conveyer which comprises spaced-apart crossflights movable along a stationary bed plate; This bed plate forms the bottom of the chute, the upper edges of which are located in position to be engaged by the upper portion oft-he conveyenD; The moving portion of the conveyor D is of the upright endless chain type, consisting of two chains with scraper bars between.- i The chains at the receiviiig and discharging ends of the conveyor run over rollers and are driven by the sprockets 62 and 63, Fig. 4, which mesh with thelower runsofthe chains... These sprockets are keyed to the shaft 64 which has suitable hearings in" the conveyor frame 65. Power to drive the shaft 64 is derived from to, the shaft 84 and spur gear 67 loosely mounted on shaft 64. The spur gear 67 has clutch jaws arranged to engage with the clutch .68 mounted onthe shaft '64 and :provided with a feather to drive it. The clutch 68 is thrown in and out of engagement with the spur gear- 67 by.means of a rod; 7 0 .of usual construction.

.the shaft 34 by means-'of spur gear 66 keyed ternal gear' 72 are loosely mounted on the upright" shaft 87. They are provided Withclutch jaws arranged to engage with the clutch 73 which is slidably mounted on the shaft 37', and provided with the usual; feather to drive it. The clutch is controlled'by the lever 74. A shaft 7 5 is mounted in suitable hearings 'in the frame 17, and has'rigidly secured to it apinion 7 6 meshing, with internal gear 72, a spur gear 77, meshin-gr with spur pinion 71, and a worm 78. f The worm 78 meshes with worm gear 79-, which is keyed to the shaft 80 mounted in suitable bearings inthe frame 17. A worm 81 is keyed to the shaft 80. and meshes with the segmental gear 18 rigidly attached to-gthe conveyor frame 91 This segmental gear is more clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. I

The moving portion of the conveyor contained in the conveyor frame 9 is'of the upright endless chain type, and is practically identical-in construction to the 'movi'ng part of the conveyor D except that the shaft 82 which corresponds to'shaft 64 of the conveyorD is driven by the bevel pinion 83 and bevel gear 84 in place of the spur gears; 66 and 67 respectively of the conveyor D, shown "meats? is Fig. 4. The bevel pinion s3 and bevel gear to the motor shaft.

It is desirable to tilt the machine to adjust The' bevel' pinion 83 is keyed tothe shaft 85 8 1 are shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2.

whichis carried bearings 86,87 in the conveyor frame 9 and bearing 88in the main frame 81. The shaft 85'is driven from the keyed to the shaft and bevel pinion'15, keyed electric motor by means of bevel gear, 89

the'position of thelterfcutters' I provide for this by two screwjacks 91*and 92 secured 'to the main frame 8. The machine is held in adjusted position by the two roof' jacks93 and9-l.

From the above it will be seen that 8 designates the main frame on which is mounted the main conveyer 9 in fixed relation thereto. D designates a swinging supplementaljconveyer pivotallyconnected to theforward end ofthe main frame8 and comprising an endless traveling conveyer as shown'in Figs. 1 and 2. The forward end of this endless traveling conveyer which is mounted on the dent from the extentjof the worm gear 18- shown in Figs. 1' and'2.' The supplemental conveyer D is inposition to deliver material to the main conveyerthroughout the swinging range of movement oftheformer. Fur,- thermore, although the motor '12 is mounted on the main frame 8, the power transmission gearing shown is adapted to operate the supplemental conveyer in the various angular positions thereof relative to the main frame. It will also be seen by refering to Fig. 1 that the'supplemental frame 17 is pivotallyc'onnected to the main frame ina relatively low position adjacent the surface on which the main frame is adapted to rest, the connection being such that delivery communication with the main conveyer9 is maintained throughout a wide angular movement of the supplemental frame 17 relatively to the main frame 8. This delivery communication is assured by the hopper shown in Figs. 1 and 2 at the forward and lower end of the main conveyer 9. By providing the pivotal connection between the supplemental frame 17 and the main frame 8 below the hopper ofthe 'conveyer 9 thespace above this hopper is maintained free and unobstructed so that the conto the main franieiS. It is evident that the I range of swinging movement is 180"or more 7 because when the conveyer 6O swings more than from thew position'shownin the upper section 60. of the conveyerD will engage the inclined side of the chute of the conveyer9 and permit pivotal movementfat f f 61aofthe conveyer section 60. I

' An additional swinging supplemental con veyer F is mounted at the rear portion ofthe mainframe 8 to swing laterally on an .up-.

right axis through an "arc of 180, or more while delivery communication is maintained v between the main; conveyer 9 and the deepi' storage hopper. at the forward end of the conveyer F, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. a lit'will thus be seenthat the mainconveyer 9 has a forward receiv ng portion-1n a relatively low position and a rear portion inclined upward ly-toward the rear. The. rear supplemental conveyer F is pivotallyconnected at 95 and 96 to the lower and upper rear end portions of the main frame'SIto swing on an upright-axis through or more, The pivotal connecions 95 and. 96'are spacedapart vertically and respectively located above and below the forward end of theconv'eyer F to providea freeand unobstructed recelving space above the forward end of thecon'veye'r F, the latter being at the bottom of the deep storage. 1

hopper in a relatively. low position and inclinedupwardly and rearwardly toward delivery position at the rear end ofthe loading This deep storage hopper sur machine. 7 rounds the receivlng space. for directlng material from the main conveyer 9 onto the con-' I veyer F throughout the range of movement 9. By making the frame 98 U-shap'ed and extending it horizontally and rearwardly therefrom a free and unobstructed space is pro vided for delivery of material from the main conveyer 9 into the deephopper. The upper pivotal connection'at'96 supports the over axisextending through these pivotal connections; 7 p a I The coal 1s received by the conveyor 9 and loaded lnto the minecars bya swinglng convcyor referred to asa whole by letter'F,'Figs.

1 and 2. It is pivotally supported by the main frame 8 and the conveyor frame 9, and

arranged to swing through an arc of more than 180degr'ees. "A stud 95;resting in a suitable bearing in main frame 8, forms the pivotal support in the main frame 8, and a pin T96, connecting the T-shaped frame 97, at-"'-'-- tached to theswingingconveyor frame to the loop frame 98, attached to the conveyor frame 9, forms the sup port on the conveyor frame 9. The swinging framejmay be rigidly held inany position of its travel bymeans of a 'of the latter relatively to the main conveyer v brake consisting of a screw shaft'99, and a The conveyin mechanism of the swinging conveyor F, is the same construction as described for conveyor 9,'the bevel pinion 101,

bevel geai'102 andshaft- 103 corresponding respectivelyto' 8 3, 84 and 85 for conveyor 9. The shaft 103 of conveyor F is driven from shaft 85 hymeans of dr' e chains 10 1 and 105. hese chains'operate on sprockets as follows: Sprocket 106 which drives chain 105 isloosely mounted on shaft 85, and has driving connection with shaft .85 through clutch 107, slidably mount-ed on, and driven by shaft 85 by means of suitable feather! Sprocket 108, loosely mounted on. th stud 05., is driven by the drive chain 105. Sprocket 109, which is loosely mounted on stud 9:3,but

rigidlv connected to sprocket 108, driveschain 104. Sprocket 110 keyed to the shaft 103 is driven by'chain 104. f

It Willbe noted that as sprockets 108 and 109 are concentric with the pivot of conveyor F, the driving connection will be maintained at any position of'the swing of the conveyor F. It should be notedthat when the cutting mechanism and the breaker are entirely removed the remaining mechanism is of the hopper. Although the supplemental conveyer may be moved from one side of the hopper arc-uately to the other side, the supplemental conveyer always remains in delivery communication with the main conveyer. In the same manner the line of draft of the 'main conveyer 9 extends toward the vertical axis of the swinging conveyer F. Throughout the various swinging angular positions of the conveyer F the main conveyer always remains in delivery communication with the loading conveyer. Each oftheconveyers is preferably of the scraper type so as to minimize the Width'of the machinefor transportation along a mine track and around sharp turns in a mine. It can be seen thatalthough the conveyer is elongated when in operation the conveyers have relative turning movements on the axes at 16 and 96. The gathering conveyer D can swing through an arc of over 180 independently ofthe arcuateswing ing movement? of the loading conveyer F throughan angle of ovenl-SO". The motor 12 is located beneath the main conveyer and the driving mechanism to which itis connected 1 is very compact notwithstanding the fact that it drives the gathering conveyeras well hand wheel nut l00,s upp orted in the bracket '11-: i I

as swings it and also drives the main conveyer and the loading conveyer. The deep storage hopper for the loading I conveyer enables loading to be interrupted when defsired by releasingthe clutch 107, without discontinuing theoperation of the gathering conveyerfand the main conveyer 9. Also when'desired theaclutch 68 may be released to stop the operation of the gathering conveyer. The clutch 7 8 when released will stop the arcuatc gathering movement of the gathering conveyer. When the cutting mechanism and the breaking down mechanism illustrated inthe accompanying drawings are omitted the loading apparatus which remains is particularly adapted for use in coal mines to gather and load coal which has beenbroken down by bl'asting'or otherwise from the face of the coal vein.

. In my co-pe-nding application, Serial No.

202,825; filed November. 19, 1917, for appara-tus for mining and unloading coal, I have shown and claimed the minlng mechanism of the type herein disclosed and also such mining mechanism combined'with the type of cipal features common to said application and the present a-pplicationare the floor kerfcutter, the upper kerf-cutter adjustable in elevation, breaking-down mechanism Within the periphery of the upper ,kerf-cutter, and also the forward endless conveyer in position to receive the broken down material and convey it to an intermediate conveyer to which the forward conveyeris'pivotally connected, said intermediate conveyer delivering the material to the storage hopper which'is provided with a loading conveyer, said storage hopper being provided also with pivotal connections above and below, whereby a floor kerf is cut as the most forward frame is swung in an are together with the forward conveyer and at p the same time an upper kerf is out at an opposite inclination while the material is broken down by the. breaking device and continuously carried back bythe three conveyers serially arranged and successively delivering the material from one to the other, and the rearmost conveyer delivering the materialinto a mine car to which the rear conveyer is swung from the pivotal connectionsabove and below the hopper.

Obviously those skilled in the art may i make various changes in the details and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the claims hereto appended, and. I

wish, therefore, not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

- Having shown and described an operative form of my inventiornl claim I Y 1; In loading apparatus, the combination with a main frame adapted to rest on the floor of a mine chamber, of a main conveyer mounted on said main framelin fixed relap loading apparatus herein disclosed, the plain tion thereto, a vertical shatlt'mounted on the floor of the mine :chamberleaving the forward end of said conveyor free and unobshaft for pivotal .movement laterally "rela tively to said main frame over the'floor' of the mine chamber inadvance of said main frame, a supplemental conveyermounted on said supplemental frame for delivery com munication to said main conveyor throughout the range of lateralanovement'of said supplemental frame relatively to said main frame, frame back of sa1d vertical shaft, and power motor mounted on said main transmission gearing between said motor and said supplemental frame for driving said supplemental conveyor and for swinging said supplemental frame together with said supplemental conveyor laterally relatively to said mam frame wh le the forward receiv ng end of said supplemental conveyer occupies aposition adjacent the fioor of the mine chamber and the rear end of said supplemental conveyor remains in delivery communicationewith the forward end of said main 2. In loading apparatus, the combination with a main frame, of a main conveyor mounted thereon, a motor mounted on said main frame, driving connections comprising a vertical shaft extending between said motorand said main "conveyer, a swinging supplemental conveyer mounted on said main frame for pivotal movement-relatively therea motor on said main frame, and driving connections cou'iprising a double sprocket with its axis concentric with the aforesaid upright axis, said driving connections exextending from the motorto said axis and thence to the supplemental conveyor to drive the latter in its various lateral positions relative to said main frame;

4, In loading apparatus, the combination with a main frame,of a supplemental frame mounted to swing von an upright axis relatively to said main frame, a supplemental conveyor mounted on said supplemental j-fram'e to, deliver material to a predetermined location relative to said 'mainIfram T-a driv-f ing sprocket concentric with said upright axis, amotor, ons'aidmain frame, driving mechanism between saidmotor 'andrsaid' conve'yer and; comprising a sprocket chain connected to said driving sprocket to effect.- the structed on its upper side, a swinging sup-' plemental frame connected to said vertical" driving of said supplemental conveyer in thevarious-angular positions of jthelatter,

wormgear secured to said mainframe con- Oentricto said'upriglit axis, and, auxiliary driving connections associated with said irst-named driving connections" "for conHection to said worm gear to effect the swmg- 111g of 7 said' supplemental frame together with said conveyor while the latter is being driven. r y b 5. In load ng apparatus, the combinatlonwith a main frame, of a main conveyor mounted thereon, a chute for said main'conv'eyer, and a supplemental conveyor swingable laterally on an upright axis on said main frame and comprising a pivoted section in delivery communicaton with said'fmain conveyor and adapted to swing upwardly when engaging one of thesides of said chute to mamtam such delivery communication,

6, In loading apparatus, the comblnation with a main frame, of 'a main conveyer' mounted thereon, a sectional supplemental conveyer mounted for lateral swmgmgmove- 'ment on an upright axis on said mainframe T while maintaining delivery communication with said main conveyer'in the various angular positions of said supplementalconveyor relative to said main frame, said supplemental conveyer comprisinga delivery section pivotedon an approximately horizontal axis to swingupwardly when engaging said mam frame upon movement to lateral positions, and means for driving said conveyors.

7. In-loading apparatus, the combination" 3 with a mainframe, of a main conveyor mounted thereon, a hopper at the forward end of said conveyer, an inclined chute ex tending upwardly from said hopper, a'sup plemental frame mounted on ;said main frame to swing on an upright axis, a supplemental conveyer mountedion said supplemental frame and comprising a section pivoted on an approximately 1 horizontal axis to permlt tilting of said section when moved laterally into engagement with one side or the other of said chute adjacent said hopper, and means for driving said conveyors.

8. In. loading mounted thereon, a swinging supplemental frame for swinging movement relatively apparatus, the combinatlon with a main frame, of a main conveyer thereto on an upright axis while maintained v in delivery communication with said main conveyor from aposition at right angles to the longitudinal lengthrof the machine at one f" e'rde thereof to a poitio'n at right angle's tb sugh longitudinilfl length at the otherj side thereoflme'emg for'mainfialining delivery cqmmumpzrtlon between fsgud conveye'rs {throughout the-mn ge 0f I1"a ter-2 1"1 swinging movement of "said supplemental .conveyer, means for driving said supplemental cenveyer, and mechanism cemprisingaj =stau'io1'1ar'y gear concentric with the pi'vdtfil axis of swinging n'xove'm'ent; of the supplemental conveyer for swinging the lat'ter'toi't s various angular p0- sitiens relative to said main conveyer.

EDMUND O. MORGAN. 

